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BIOTECTURE VILLAGE Thematic Research Paper BIOTECTURE VILLAGE Thematic research paper Abstract To reduce the environmental impact of built environment, a circular approach needs to be implemented on all levels. Resources often travel great distances to their consumers, which leads to an inefficient and wasteful supply chain. Thus, by moving to localized production of all resources needed to sustain a small village can be greatly reduced. This research intends to explore the possibilities of a self-sufficient village applying known technologies to all energy and material flows. Achieving full autarky is therefore a key aspect of the plan. The demands of water, food and energy will be researched and from this a quantified plan will emerge that can serve as design guidelines. The village will be placed in the Dutch sub-urban context of Parkstad, which is known for population decline and changing demographics. This region will be presented by IBA as a regional incubator of sustainable innovations by the year 2020. It is therefore essential to attract people of all age groups to seize this opportunity and collaborate for a sustainable and diverse living environment. Colophon Research paper: Biotecture village Written by: Bernard Oussoren Student number: 4017919 Tutor Architecture: Annebregje Snijders Tutor Research: Jan Jongert As part of: Master of Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences Faculty of Architecture Julianalaan 113 2628 BL, Delft Personal Information: Doelenstraat 125 2611 NS, Delft [email protected] +31 (0)6 50 53 58 50 January 2017 Table of contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Methodology 2 3. Context 3 3.1 Heerlen 4 3.2 Location 5 3.2.1 Eco-village situation 5 3.2.2 Locational properties 6 3.3 Program of Requirements 7 4. Autarky 8 4.1 Earthships 9 4.2 Greenhouses 10 4.3 Permaculture 11 4.4 Water 13 4.4.1 Domestic water 13 4.4.2 Food production water 15 4.5 Waste 16 4.5.1 Fertilizer extraction 16 4.5.2 Biogas digestion 16 4.6 Energy 18 4.6.1 Electricity 18 4.6.2 Heat 18 5. Conclusion 19 1 1. Introduction The area around the municipality of Heerlen is struggling with high vacancy rates, shrinkage and changing demographics. In order to mediate this trend, IBA-Parkstad was established to search for innovative solutions that would sustainably benefit the region and its identity. Along themes of “recycle city”, “energy city” and “flexible city” changes will be made to reinvigorate public space, green landscape and urban neighbourhoods. These changes will need to ensure a sustainable and attractive future for the region and its municipalities. In the spirit of this, I want to explore innovative housing solutions and permaculture, which can enable a local independence of resources while adding spatial quality to the surrounding. As the need for reducing architecture’s carbon footprint has been growing in the past decades, the relevance of circular design and closing material flows has been proven. Resources nowadays travel great distances to their destinations, often leading to losses along the way. Therefore, the challenge of today is to locally organize sustainable food, energy, water and waste flows. This leads to the following questions: Thematic research question: How can the flows of food, energy, water and waste be locally organized and incorporated in the design of an autarkic eco-village that exemplifies sustainable living in Parkstad? Sub-questions: - To what extent can earthship biotecture aid to the autarky of housing in The Netherlands? - How much surface area is required to produce enough food and water for the village? - How much energy can be generated with waste flows and can this power the village? 2. Methodology This research is mainly informed by literature and case studies. IBA-Parkstad documents have provided background information about the projected urban developments. E-mail correspondence with permaculture enthusiasts and lectures were used to assess the need of such lifestyle in the region. Existing research literature and case studies about earthship biotecture was used to examine its potential in the local climate and what parts of its design principles are of use during the design process. Research about closed greenhouses as energy producers has been used as well. Consequently, case studies about the use of anaerobic (biogas) digestion in conjunction with a Combined Heat and Power system (e.g. Zonneterp Greenhouse Village) have been used to quantify a general approach for the eco-village. With this collected information material flow analyses can be made and each flow can be quantified using spreadsheet calculations. Chapter 3 will provide information about the locational context. Assumptions about future housing needs and locational climatological data will inform the creation of a program of requirements. From this program, a conceptual design for the eco-village emerges. Thereafter, chapter 4 will explore the concept of autarky according to earthship biotecture, greenhouses and permaculture according to the data from chapter 3. This will also include systems of autarky of relevance and what their spatial implications (in m2) may be for the design phase. 2 3. Context: Parkstad Parkstad is a 255.000-people region that consists of eight collaborating municipalities in South-eastern Limburg, the largest and most central of which is Heerlen. Parkstad used to be a major energy producer for The Netherlands due to its coal mining industry, but was not able to economically adjust after its industrial decline. This has left the region with relatively high unemployment rates and a shrinking population. However, the region has grown rapidly in a hotspot for leisure, tourism and nature recreation. The region’s rather unique heathland hills and stream valleys are considered of great national value. High sea levels during the Miocene deposited sand, silt and clay sediments which led to raised plateaus and unique vegetation. The Brunssummerheide nature reserve lies on one of these plateaus and is regarded as the largest natural heathland of its surroundings, attracting many recreational visitors. Besides leisure and recreation, the regional focus has also shifted towards entrepreneurship due to the availability of low-cost office spaces. These attract young start-up talent to settle in Parkstad. Moreover, with the introduction of IBA, Parkstad seeks to provide an open campus dedicated to the search, application and production of renewable energy. IBA-Parkstad revolves around three themes; recycling, flexibility and energy. By the year 2020, IBA-Parkstad aims to present innovative projects that aid to a more sustainable future. Initiatives like Avantis, Solland Solar and M3 Recyclepark are an example of this development. Consequently, the region will be in the international spotlight more than ever. In order to prevent further population decline, Parkstad needs to become an attractive stage for starters and families, while also prepare for an increasingly ageing population. This will have to be done according to the three themes IBA has urged. Therefore, my proposal is to exemplify sustainable living by introducing an eco-village which can house various age groups in local off-grid autarky. Ideally, the village will produce enough energy to power a visitor centre. This village will prove that housing can be energy producers, instead of consumers. As a result, an attractive and sustainable place to live can be created to reinvigorate a shrinking region. 3 3.1 Heerlen 1. Municipality of Heerlen 2. Infrastructure in and around Heerlen 3. Facilities and places of interest in Heerlen 4. Location between city center and recreational nature area of Brunssummerheide 4 3.2 Location Beaujean East Sand Quarry 700m * 300m, surface around 22 Hectares. Situated on a sand deposit layer 40 to 60m deep. Beaujean East Sand Quarry plot. Housing destination plan is being approved by the Municipality. The Sibelco Quarry to the East of the plot is planned to be restructured to a recreational area. 3.2.1 Eco-village situation The sandy layer in the soil of the plot is an underground that is very well suited for buildings without foundations. Movable structures and modular types of building are therefore possible on this terrain. The sand itself is high-quality silver sand which is used for the manufacturing of glass and other silica- containing materials. Local production of building materials can therefore be an option. The natural slope of the chosen location also provides an excellent viewpoint of the Parkstad area and solar irradiance from the South without obstacles for all projected houses. The body of water on the south side of the area marks where groundwater has come to the surface. 5 3.2.2 Locational properties Temperature in (long-term yearly average) Yearly average 10,1 °C Summer average: 17,0 °C Daily maximum: 21,9 °C Winter average: 3,4 °C Daily minimum: 0,5 °C Summery days1: 26 Summer Tropical days2: 4 Icy days3: 8 Frost days4: 58 Degree days5: 2884 1. Maximum temperature 25 °C or more. 2. Maximum temperature 30 °C or more. 3. Temperature not more than 0 °C. 4. Minimum temperature below 0 °C. Fall/Spring 5. Measure of heating or cooling consumption. Precipitation (long-term yearly average) Rainfall: 887 mm Rainy days: 131 Snowy days: 25 Dry days: 122 Misty days: 63 Evaporation: 559 mm Relative humidity: 82% Winter (“CBS StatLine - Klimaatgegevens; De Bilt temperatuur, neerslag en zonneschijn 1800-2014,” 2015) Sunshine Sun hours: 1602 Days without sun: 61 Sunrise Solar noon Sunset Solar angle Summer solstice 08:37 12:35 16:33 61,5° Spring/fall equinox 06:37 14:44 18:51 38,1° Winter solstice 05:23 13:39 21:55 14,5° (“SunCalc sun position and sunlight phases calculator,” n.d.) Maastricht average solar irradiance figures, measured onto a solar panel set at a 24° angle (winter optimal). Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Solar Irradiance (kWh/m2/day) 1,47 2,23 2,88 3,44 3,88 3,83 3,82 3,86 3,19 2,47 1,64 1,19 (“Solar Irradiance Calculator,” n.d.) 6 3.3 Program of requirements One of the objectives of the eco-village is to counter shrinkage by attracting young people and families to the region.
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